Romania seek compensation after Argentina withdraw

BUCHAREST, (AFP) – Romania will seek compensation after Argentina cancelled their August 10 friendly in the aftermath of coach Sergio Batista’s departure, the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) said on Tuesday.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on Monday that they were parting ways with the manager after the Copa America flop, which saw the hosts eliminated at the quarter-final stage by eventual winners Uruguay.

But Sandu stressed Argentina were bound by a $1.2 million contract to play a friendly in Bucharest on August 10.

Romanian authorities had planned months in advance to inaugurate a stylish 55,000-seat stadium, the National Arena, on this occasion.

With some 38,000 tickets already sold, the federation must now find another opponent for the Romanian squad.

“We will try to convince Portugal to cancel their friendly against Luxemburg and come to Bucharest instead,” he said.

If this plan fails too, the stadium will be inaugurated on September 6 when Romania are due to play against France in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

“We must remain optimistic because we need to host a major squad for the inauguration,” said Sandu.